Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

The *Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)* is native to parts of Asia and the Middle East. By the middle 1900s, either introduced by man, or of its own accord, the species was common across Europe and in the 1970s began showing up in the Bahamas, and by 1982 had spread to Florida. There is considerable controversy about how the bird got to the Bahamas, but it has proven to be an incredibly invasive species on its own. By the early 1990s the species had moved from Florida to other states along the Gulf coast and by 2005 was common across parts of the United States. In 2011 the species is considered common and abundant across much of this nation. The bird on the right was perched on a wire in Fort Stockton, Pecos Co., Texas, in June, 2005.
The next two shots show Eurasian Collared-Doves at a cattle feed lot in Alpine, Brewster Co., Texas, in September, 2005.

The birds on the right were in Stratford, Sherman Co., Texas, in January, 2011.
In January, 2011, Chuck Sexton and I observed many thousands of Eurasian Collared-Doves around a grain storage facility in Dalhart, Dallam Co., Texas, in the north west Texas Panhandle. Many of these doves were feeding on huge piles of corn as may be seen in some of the next images.







The two doves on the right were perched on a basketball back board in Texline, Dallam Co., Texas, in January, 2011.
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas 12 March 2013
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas 12 March 2013
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Balmorhea, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Balmorhea, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013